Machine for trimming the edges of molded disks



1,633,552 June 21, 1927- WELLS MACHINE FOR TRIMMING THE EDGES 0F MOLDEDDISKS Filed April 12, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 21,1927. 1,633,552

I c. B. WELLS MACHINE FOR TRIMMING THE EDGES 0F MOLDED DISKS med April12, 1925 SSheets-Sheet 3 June 21,1927.

c. B. WELLS momma FOR TRIMMING THE EDGES OF MOLDED msxs Filed April 12,92s 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 attowu 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 c. B. WELLS MACHINE FORTRIMMING THE EDGES 0F MOLDED DISKS Filed April 12;

June 21, 1927.

Gum-m,

Maw

Patented June 21; 1927.

. iu nirrtio n-res 5P -'.o FFiLjC E.

' oYR-os-nwELLs; OF'AUZBURN, NEW'YOBK,ASSIGNOR TOTHESCRANTON environoomrlm-Ypor SCRANTON,"PENNSYLVA'NIA, A conronnrmn or mimsnvme*MACHDIE-FOR TRIMMI-NG THE EDGES OF MOLDED DISKS.

Application filed April l2, i926. Serial No. 101,490.

This invention relates to machines for trinnningtheediges of but-tonsand other disklike'objects \v rich are made from plastic material. F orconvenience, the machine I will be described its usedin" trimmingbuttons. In-makin'g the buttons in two-part molds, fins are-left. ontheedges of the buttonsnlong the meetingfaces ofthe molds, and in order tolinisl'i the buttons their edges must be ground to remove the-fins n ndthen wmidway on other 'forms the fins maybe nearer-- to .Epolilslled.The purpose of the present in- .vent-ioi'risto;'provide a. machine whichwill both grindand liolish the edges of the buttons-.ailtoinat-icnly.

l5 ln carrying out the invention,lprovide, --upon -asuitable suppo-rt,-t-wo endless belts having stretches which travel downwardly,substantiallyin the same plzine.-one of these belts-having an -ubrasivesurface-and the other hevingm smooth r polishingsurface.

able to suit buttons of d'iierent widths and lilxtendiin; across thefaces-of these belts are downwardly --inclfined button guides, havingopen sides-next the bolts, that the edgesof'tho buttonsnnay come ineonzo -t-nctw-lt-h =thea-belts was the buttons: travel 'thro'u h theguides The guide opposite the a rasive 'belt is higher than the guideopposite the polishingbelt, and a chute or bridge-piece connects-theseguides-so that 80 the buttons-may travel continuously through theupperguide, thencethrough the con-" neeting chute-and thence-tlirouglrtlielower guide. As the stretches: of; the belts opposite the .guides travel'downwardly-they cause the bu'ttons to travel toward the lower ends ofthe guides withj-zi-rolhng -motion against the front-walls oftheguides-und thus-nllfparts of the circumferential edges lo thegrinding-and -polislii-ng'belts;

In order to-pr0vicle=for the reinoviil'of thedust and fine part-idles of-n1a-ter-ial ground from: the 1ed es of the buttons, the

upper 41nd lower walls of theupper guide,

ground material downwardly through the guide, materiallyassists-i-ncausing the but tons to travel downwardly in the guide. In

the lowergnide,wvherein the edges: of tl1ebuttons-ere poli shed,-an.airblast is delim lining- )re'l'ernbly moves -t w dust.

-- the lower-guide their edges g-round'and; polished.

--on=.-pnrallel shafts.

of the buttons-arebrought i-n oo'ntaet'w-ithered into the, guide andthis-removes irny -pnrtioles' oldnst. on the. parts 0f the bodiesexposed-to theblast; -but -to remove the dust rein the underside of thebuttons," the lower Wall of the guide is n'ovidedlwitlr a fabric felt,\vhielr:eflectivelyre '-'I-he buttons emerge: from free from; duslriand'='-with .The fins on some forms-of buttons-are 66 between the l'a ces'of the buttons;

one face thanto'the othen -Hei1ee,' in order "1 arrange the button 70their longitudinal axesi'to-various positions,

so that theed'gesofthe buttonsto'be ground --an(l. polished may bepresentedfto the belts at di fi'erent-znigles.' T he uid'es are :a'djust- 76 thickness. s v The I grinding and polishing"helts aresrel- -atively-\vide and are supported -enfdruins ils the weightenrriedhy 80 the.shafts is considerable, I provide means for su ilpo'rting the shaftsabboblr-endsl As the belts have-to belreneWed-fromtime-to time .-I haveprovided means, hereinafter described, whereby the belts nmybereadilytaken oll"- -orreplaced}withoutremoving the benrings'fro nthe shafts. r

In the acoomp'zniyi-ng 'elra-win ,v

l!ig. l is .a front elevation girlie machine; Fig.- 2 is a left handside elevation of the fig. 3 is a front elevation of the half of themachine ;Sl1OW11."ZlC' the left inj Fig; l,--

the belt -being oniitted;' i Fig. '4 is 'zt-sec tion on the line -4.-4of 05.

rig. -1,=t he upper j utton guide beingsshown in horizontal position;

-l 'ig. 5 IS a' similar view, showing said guide in inclined position;

-llg. 6 is a =seotionthrough snid guide on the hne 66-o f Fig. 7;

Fig.7 is a top plan view of the upper button guide and its support 1 9is a top plan view, partlv-i-nseet-ion, of the hridgeepieoe whicheqnnects'the button guides-n portion of one of the-latter being shown;

Fig. 11- is a section through the lower button guide taken on the line'll-l l. o'l" Fig. 1;

Fig. 12 is a section on the line 'l212 of Fig. 2; and, i

l i3 is a. section on the line l3-13 of Fig. l2.

The complete machine lsconlpos'ed ol two sections, a and b, which arealike in most of their mechanical features; The section (I carries anendless abrasive belt 1, mounted on rollers 2 and 3, and the section (1carries a si'noolh oiled belt 4, mounted on rollers 5 and (i. The shaft'7 of the section a has an idle pulley 8 and a driving belt 9 ext-endsaround this pulley. Pulleys ll) and 1.1. are secured to thc shal 't T,and the latter pulley is connected by a belt to a pulley 13, secured toa shaft 14 on the section b. When the driving belt 9 is shifted on tothe pulley 10, (by belt-shifting mechanism not shown) the shafts? and1st of the two machine sections will be driven and the belts l and 4;will be driven at relatively high speeds. The forward stretches oi: thebelts will have a downward motion, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1.

As the two sections of the machine are much alike, a description of thegeneral features of section a will apply to section The mechanism ofsection a is mounted upon uprigl'its 15 and 16. On the'faces of theseuprights are channel bars 17 and 18, to

A which are secured metal cross-pieces 19 and 20. Brackets 2]. and 22,(Figs: 13 and 13) having bearings for the. shaft 7, are secured to thecross-piece l9, and brackets 23 and 2% are secured to the cross-piece20. The roller Sis mounted loosely upon a Shaft 25 which is adjustablevertically in guide slots in the brackets, one of these slots beingshown at 20 in Fig. 3. The shaft 2-5 is supported by links 27, which arepivotally con-V nee-ted to crank arms 23,- sccnred to a rock shaft 29,extending transversely of. the machine. A lever 30, resting upon apivotal stud 3i at the end of one of thecrank arms and bearing againstthe underside of the rock shaft .29, carries a weight *which serves,through the'mechanism described, to press downwardly upon the shaft 25carrying the lower roller abrasive belt 1 and keep it taut.

An angle bar-'32 is secured to the front edges of the brackets 2i and22-}, and an angle bar 3 is secured to the front edges of the brackets22 and 24. The rock-shaft 29 is mounted in suit-able bearings at theback of the angle bars, and rollers and are mounted in suitable bearingsat the front of the angle burs. These rollers '34 and 35 are inclineddownwardly, from left to right, as shown, and are parallel with oneanother The function of the might is thus to apply tension to theandspace-(la short distance apart. The belt 1 bears against these rollers,as shown in] Figs. 2, 4t and 5. 1

It will be noted that thegshafts' which carry the upper and lowerrollers 2 and 3 are supported. at both ends. Because the abrasive beltshave to be renewed at'intcrvols, it is desirable to providenieanswhereby a belt can be removed from or placed upon the rollers withoutremoving the bean piece (owel pins, which latterspace the bracket fromthe cross-piece and leave a gap 40 of sufiicient width to permit theabrasive belt to pass through when the dowel pins and the bolt 39 areremoved; The lower bracket- Z- t is connected in a similar way to thecross-piece 20, and spaced from it by dowel pins on a n'ietal strip 37.In order to change a belt, it is only necessary to removethebolts 39 and39 and t'hehstri s 37' and 37, carrying the dowel pins, an the belts maythen be passed through 'the'gaps between the brackets and cross-pieces.Upon replacement of the: dowel pins and tighten ing of the bolts, thebrackets will be firmly secured to the cross-pieces. The dowel pinsinsure the correct positioning of the-brackets to aline the bearings forthe shafts;

On the polishing. section I) of the machine, the brackets on the side ofthe section opposite the driving pulley 13, that is, the right hand sidein Fig. -1, are connected to the cross-pieces in the same manner as thebrackets 22 and or, at the left side of the section a are connected.Thus, by removing the dowel pins which are connected to strips 37 and37, in the section I), (Fig -1) the polishing belt ca n'be removed by1);ISSUIQ it through the 'gaps' between the brackets and thecross-pieces.

A button auidec is arranged in front-of the abrasive belt of the sectiona, anda button guide d is arranged in front of the smooth belt on thesection 7), and these guides are connected by a bridge-piece e. Thebutton guides and bridge-piece, as shown in Fig. l, are inclineddownwardly from left to right, so that buttons placed in the guide inthesection a will'travel-successively through said guide, the bridge-pieceand the guide (5 to an outlet spout 41, coniposed of woven wire. Theseguides are. arranged in front of those portions of the belts flange ofthe bracketand into the cross 19, clamps the bracket against the p infront or the abrasive which are between thepzrirs of ine'lined rolloisoverwhi'el'r the belts; tr'zWe'L The structure. of the guideo; whichrs arranged upon the-sectiona of the machine, is illustrated inFigs'.--4S,- inclusive The guide is det-aehably secured: to-a itat petalher 42, which I p Y bel ils-showni'n Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5,'the"b;rrt2 hasui-pa ir' of lugs 43, secured to its undersi'denear-its ends;- a-n'dthese lugs projeet laterally.- izisrall'el ui tlr the barinto openingsin the heads 4 5* onstud's 45. The

studs extend through o wings in arms {6, which are mounted on-tieouterends of stu'tl's 47, securedtothe angle irons; 32 and 33,respectively Se-t screws-are provided for locking the arms 4:6 tothestuds (ti; also for locking the studs to the arms i6 and for locking thepins 44 to' the heads-4'5. The arrangement of these parts issuc'h thatthe button: guide inn-y hove n more or less universal adjustment; Thus.by adjusting the arms -16 on: the studs 47,- the button guide and itssupporting bur may he set inwardly or outwardly with res not to thebelt; by adjusting the studs 45 in the arms 46 the guide may be raisedor loweredyund by'udjust-i-ng thepins fl in-theheirds .45; the but-' tonguide and its supporting her may be set at various angles with res eotto-the belt, as illustrated Figs .1-4 ant 5.

The button guide a in -t-l1efform' o'ta trough, openut tono-side', andcomprises abottom plate 4:834! back piece" 1 9 and it top plate 50. Thebottom plateis secured to the eel: plat'e' 49, and the rum-"ms lugs $9?which rest upon the supporting bar 42.

These lugs are slotted, as sh'ori'u in Fig: 7,1

and clumping screws 51: exteudgthrough the slots in' the lugs andsecurethem to the sup porting bar. The lower plute' t of the-bot ton guide islongitudinally channeled-5 11s. in-

dicated at Q8; and the channeled-portion has a series of perforations48" extending throughout its length. The upper plate of the guide is oneflange of an angle bar, the other flange 50 being: secured against.

thebuck piece 44).- As shown. the baclc'piece. 49 has vertical slots 49*and damping screws 51. extend through these shots andinto the flange 50Thezupper plate 50 of the but ton guide is thusadj'ustuble with res metto the lower plate 48'to' vary the depthof the, channel between these.plates. The upper plate 50 is cut away, ins-shown: at 5O", to

permit air. to'be blown'into'and through the.

button guide as l'iereina-fter eXplhineda- 'Clllll-lllQlGCl feed plate 1is edjiustublysecured tothe sI-ipporting bar 42- by clamp-mg screws 5Land a flanged guidefiiis adj-ustm hly secured upon the-feed plate by'thesame screws. i I

The buttons which are to be trimmed are placed on the feed plate by theoperator is ndjnstubl-v mounted have pins 44-: which 509-," in case tobuttons sh ould jun-lined ;-inthe guide;

the fins el -rough edges on the"buttons areground on asthejbu'ttonstrzrveltoward the lower end of the guide. In molding someforms of buttonsg the fin-leftuby the die's'jon the periphery of thebutton is 'centr'z'rl' between the faces of the button; in molding otherforms, the fin-is leftnearer to one face (vi? the button than the other.Where the fin is ce'iitral between the faces of the button v the-lmtton'uide will be set us in Fig. 4,

b-ut where-the hn'is nearer to one facethzrn Ito-the other, the guidemay he tilted, as shown-inaFi-g. 5, so that the button-- will engage thebelt-at the proper-ungle to have the fin gireirud off flush \vith theeclgeof the button.

Aboetho' but-tonguide is arranged an air pipe- 54, swiveled'to a supplypipeand providedwrits-under side with-a glurulity into the button guidethrough the ingshud. dust?down wzrrdly throi-lghg the guide, and thesefilings u-re' ezuqrie'clotl hg u suct onchutewl-rich, in pract|ce, 1s a-reirgsegl ne-im- (Iii-ml; slots 50-"-'- insaidguide.- The our blou n;

dox'x nwxrdlyj rutothe guide blows the lilbeueatlithe guide. 'l hisehu-te for the su'ke of. o'l earness, is not shown in. the draw-i-ngs;The. don"[in-"(tr l blasto l a-ir-f ro1n the' pipe '54 also'ussistincurryingthe butto s downvzirdly' in the button guide- Airlinlt 56,'e0nueotedto'the pipe '54 m d hiaviig a-. slidingfrictionalengu-gementwith astud 5'5 on the bar-"3201 the machine;supports the pipe 54. The pipe maybe swung upwardly away from the buttonguide. and thelinle 56 will hold it in its upper-position; Thisadjustability, of the pipe is provided-in order thz t. the-operator mayhaveaecess to the buttons I 'rijde through the o enings.

in. the button ecome The buttons, niterhu-ving their edges trimmed whilepassing through the guide 0,

in con-tact itl-rth'e*a-arasi-ve belt,v passby.

gravity through the brid e -piece or chute e to the button; uide-d;weieh is in front of the polisl-ii-i'i-gibelt E The bridge-piece e,

.aS- shown. in Figs; 9 and 10, comprises. two

'-.ehunnel-: bars 58-458 "arranged with their channelsoppooi-ngonejhnother; These ohz -u- --nol-bars areconnected-together and held.parallel with one another bycross-pieces 59, and to; these cross-piecesare secured arms 60 which are adju'stably supported on the his,

bars 42 and 42-, which support the button guides on the sections a and bof the machine. The channel bars 53 are spaced at sullicient distanceapart to permit the buttons to slide down freely through the bridgepieceto the lower button guide (I.

The lower button guide (1 is the same in all respects as the buttonguide 0, which has been described, except that, as shown in Fig. 11, astrip of felt 61 is arranged in the chan ml of the lower plate of thebutton uide. As the buttons travel down througi the lower guide d, anydust from the lower faces of the huttons is tnken'oif by the felt. Anair blast delivered from a pipe 62 (Fig. 1) blows the dust from thesurfaces and edges oi? the buttons and also assists in forcing thebuttons downwardly in the lower guide. As the buttons travel through thelower guide they roll against the back'piece 4S) and a ainst the oiledbelt *l, which polishes the ct ges of the buttons and, by its downwardmovement, causes the bilttons to roll toward the lower end of the guider1. After passing through the guide (6, the finished but tons enter thesieve-like discharge chute 1-1 and from that pass into a suitablereceptacle, not shown. When the buttons enter the receptacle they aretrimmed and polished on their edges and free irom dust and filings.

While I have described the machine as used for trimmine and polishingthe edges of buttons, it will be understood that the machine may be usedfor trimming and polishing the edges of various circular objects, andis, 'in fact, used for trimming and polishing the edges of articles suchas checkers, cork tops, ink well covers, etc,

made of plastic material.

What I' claim is: 1. In a. machine for trimming the edges of moldeddisks, such as buttons, an endless abrasive belt having a stretchadapted to travel downwardly, means for driving the belt, and a diskguide extending across the face of said stretch and inclined downwardlytoward the discharge end, said guide having parallel top and bottomwalls adapted to hold the disks edgewise with respect to the belt, andhaving one side wall, the latter spaced from the belt by approximatelythe width of the disks which are to be trimmed and the side of the guideopposite said side wall being open to permit the disks to engage thebelt.

2. In a machine for trimming the edges of molded disks, such as buttons,unendlcss abrasive bolt having a stretch adopted to travel downwardly,means for driving the belt, a disk guide extending across the face ofsaid stretch and inclined downwardly toward the discharge end, saidguide having parallel top and bottom walls adapted to hold the disksedgewise with respect to the belt, and having one side wall,

the latter spaced from the belt by approxir mutely the width of thedisks which are to be trimmed and, the side of the guide oppo site saidside wall being open to permit the disks to engage the belt, the top andbottour of the guide having openings, and

menus for delivering -a downward blast o each having a stretch adaptedtotravel downwardly, disk guides extendingacross the faces of saidstretches and inclined downwardly toward their discharge ends, saidguides havingopen sides to permit the edges of the disks to engage thebelts, and side walls, opposed to said open sides, for holding the disksagainst the belts, the guide opposite the abrasive belt being higherthan the guide opposite the polishing belt, an inclined chute oibridge-piece, having parallel side \va-lls,.for conveying disks from theupper to the lower guide, and means for blowing air downwardly into saidguides. r

4. In a nmchine for trimming and polishing, the edges of molded disks,such as buttons, an abrasive belt and a polishing belt each having astretch adapted to travel downwardly, disk uides extendin across thefaces of the bdlts and' inclined-downwardly, said guides having openside's next the belts, the guide opposite the abrasive belt being higherthan the'guidejopposite the polishing belt and having openinlgs 1ethrough its top andbottom walls nndlt guide opposite-the polishing belthaving a fabric lining on its lower wall, n bridgepiece connecting saidguides, and means; for

blowing air into snid'guides;

5. In .amachine of the classy described, supporting means, upper andlower pairof brackets secured thereto, dowel pins fitting between onebracket of each pair and its supporting means and spacing the bracketfrom said means, shafts mounted in said brackets, driuus on said shafts,between the brackets, and an endless belt extending around said drums.

6. In a machine of the-class described, supporting means, upper andlower pairs of brackets secured thereto, two dowel pins fitting betweenone bracket of each pair and its supporting means and spacing thebracket from said means, a metal strip to tending around said drums.

In testimony whereof I hereuntoaifiik my signature.

CYRUS B. WELLS.

IlO

